Signaling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A safety warning apparatus for signaling when vehicle fluids, such as brake and power steering fluids are low. The system operates off of the manifold vacuum and may operate audibly as well as visually to alert the operator of potential hazards and may also be adapted to activate the brake lights when the vehicle stalls.

United States Patent [72] Inventor William F. Shultz R ference Cit d 2] A I No $3 UNITED STATES PATENTS i221 Fii i 4 Nov.2l, 1963 3,350,704 10/1967 Kessler 340 242 Pa n Ju y 2 ,1971 Primary Examiner-.lohn W. Caldwell Assistant Examiner-Howard Cohen AtwmeyDuckworth and Hobby [54] SIGNALING APPARATUS l 9Claims,5Drawing Figs. v w [52] U.S.Cl 340/59, ABSTRACT: A safety warning apparatus for signaling when 340/242, 200/84 vehicle fluids, such as brake and power steering fluids are low. [5!] lat. Cl ..B60t 17/22, The system operates off of the manifold vacuum and may GOlf 23/08 operate audibly as well as visually to alert the operator of 4 Field of Search ..340/60, 59, potential hazards and may also be adapted to activate the 242 brake lights when the vehicle stalls.

l i 20 E "5 rm-FE /ZZ E /d s Q i a PATENTEDJUL20I97| 31594-1722 SHEET 1 BF 3 INVENTOR W/7/ bm F Schultz BY Dmkwodh 0W ATTORNEY-S PATENTEflJuLzorsn 3,594,722

v I sucngnfa Fi 3 E INVENTOR 76 74 Will/ am F Schultz 31 3mm W ATTORNEYS SIGNALING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the Invention The presentinvention relates to.a signaling system to -wam theoperator of a.vehicle, such as autpmobilesandtrucks, when fluid reservoirs in the vehicle. are reaching allow level.

,More specifically the present invention is specifically adapted to warn the-driver of a vehicle when his .br'ake orpower steer-.

ing fluid is low, so as to avoid thc'haza'rd of having-the brakes and power steering suddenly becominginoperablefor lack1of operates thesignal. As the fluidcontainerjs filled the control float risesand closes the valve preventing operation of the signal.

predetermined low point, ;the control'float drops and opens the valve, to activate the signal and wamthe driver that the When the fluid in the reserve, container reaches a brake or power steering .fluid. is low. This signal 'system replaces theoriginal cover or capand can be installed in minutes by..connecting a line to the'manifold vacuum of an internal combustion engine. A vacuum-operated electrical switch is also provided which may-operate. a visual warning system and may also be adapted to operate the vehicle braking sufficient fluidsin the reservoirs. The;present-inventionmay be operated singly,

such as in .the brake fluid. reservoir of the:

hydraulic brake system ormay be worked in series. sothata warning signal indicates a low levelin oneof several such fluid reservoirs. Motor vehicles in general-use today generallyhave several fluid systems, in each of .which it would be desirable. to

have some kind of indicator to tell when the-fluiduleyel,is .low.-

This is especially truewhen" the .fluiddevel ofshydraulically operated braking and power.- steering systems are involved.. :-In the hydraulically operated braking there is generally provided asinglc or-dual master cylinder adapted to contain a supply-,of brake'fluid to operateathe' of brake fluid-.occurs from several causes-andlmay .resulti in failure of thebfaking system or a portion thereofand thus.may result in serious accidents. Loss fluid can result from small leaks in these .fluidsmay .be small and. go unnoticedruntilthe-fluid reservoirs are checked or until they are completely depleted in. which case. the systems may become, inoperative .very su.d-.

denly. y

2 Description of the Prior Art In the past a great many devices .havebeenproposed to,-

warn drivers of the ever present danger of the. loss of brake or other'fluids in hydraulically operated systemsLThese PrionArt Devices-frequently use some lyPCLOf-flOBlIITI-IIIQIBSCI'VOIIUSO that when the fluid level reaches a-predetermined lowlevelan electrically operated switch' is activated. to actuate a warning light. In some cases .the switches have-beentcompletely. sealed liquid mercury switches to: avoid the.danger of sparks setting fireto flammable liquids or gases. ne such device has. been adapted foruse with hydraulic brake. systems-and-another. such device has been used for fermentationsand food processing. operations where precautions,are. observedvto. avoid. contamination of liquid food.-.This.-latterdevicetemploys' .the circuit maker. and breaker in a well known liquid mercury switch with a-switch placed on afloatthatfloatsjnthe reservoir so thatwhen the float :arm reaches a certain-angle, the

mercury switch is activated and: an alarm is set off; The-switch may be used to turna pump on .oroffto. maintain=-a.:desired fluid level..Othenfloat-acituated warningsystems have. used openswitches or switches. placed outside-.of-the .reservoir to avoid igniting flammable" fluid. or vapor'therein. However,

none of these Prior Art Devices have come-into-zgeneral use and none proyidea general nonelectricalswitching system,-

nor do they provide series operated devices .to.. provide warnings of several devices including power steering system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to hydraulic brake andpower steering fluid safety signal systems and especially to warning systems designed for rough .servicein both new and old cars, trucks, buses, and the like. It is operated by asvacuum from;.an

internal combustion enginewith a hose. or tubing connected to the manifold vacuum. The signal in controlled by the rineand fall of the fluid -which,. in turn, controls a l'loathousednin. a

guide tube. The. tube with the float therein maybeplaced into a fluid reservecontainer. The float. is connected 'bya linkto a vacuum control valve, which controls the vacuum which be apparent from a stu drawings in which:

,lightszwhen the vehicle stalls. I

BRIEF DESCRIPTION; OF THE RAWINGS- Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will y of the written description and the FIG; 1 is a side-view of'.-the.-hydraulic brake ,cylinder with .one embodiment of the -'presentinvention shownrattached thereto;

systems in motorvehicles 1 'FlG.2isatop view of FlG. I; I

FIG. 3 is cutawayof FIG. 2 taken along line 24-30! FIGS. 2

. and shown the internal operation ofthe invention;

.-25 brakes of. the vehicle which are locatedinthe wheels. Thelo's s of brake -.or power steering the flexiblehoses leadingto; the wheel .or to the steering system, or fron rleaksin any partof the lines, fittings'or'seals in powersteering systems. Losstof -brake system connected. in series with the .system and .-.light;

.FIG. 4 shown an embodiment having a'dual action hydraulic power steering having both a soundalarm system and a warning FIG. 5 shows a cutaway view of-the vacuumswitch. DESCRIPTION OF THEPREFERREI) EMBODIMENTS 4 FIG. 1 shows-a side view of a master brake cylinder l0hav ing the present-invention attached thereto indicated at 11 and .removably attached. to the cylinder l0 by-snapconnector 12. r :The master cylinder isheld-to the vehicle by-bolts 13 and has brake lines leading from the cylinder-l0 to wheel cylinders located inthe wheels of the .vehicle. The upper portion of the master cylinder-l0 acts as a reservoir for brake fluid used .in'thebraking -system and the present invention llmay be added to -the system by-removing thecapfrom-the master -cylinder l0: and-replacing itwith'the' invention- 11 .and then connecting a vacuum line l5'tov the intake manifold.- Cap portion -l6 replaces.the capnormally on the'master brakecylinder 10, which intheillustrated model hasthreads-lTfor holding I the old .cap,

which threads are not used replaced with the invention 11. 1 v v I Referring nowto FIG. 2 the. top view of FIG. 1 is seen having: capped portion -.l6,'vacuum line 15; snap holder, l2, bolts when the cap is 7 l3 and vacuum-line connector 17. A switch 18 isu'sed to activate the brake oristop lights on thevehicle. and is activated --.by-the fluidpressure in-the master cyl inder-.--A cover. portion "20 is-.used when a signal device such as a whistle; is located 'the capped portion" 16 of the-present inventionshojwn replacing the normal cap on the mastercylinder l0. ltshould be noted that cap 161138 111 stepped or multiple groovesthereon ..which.adapts-* the cap to fit'different makes and.models of master brake cylinders, therebylavoiding the necessity of having differentrnodels for.eachof the ,various typesof master brake cylinders. I :wcll-an the cover 20- may-also be seen in this view. Tube guide 22 is connected-tn the apparatus 10 for guiding float 23; which 10. 'The-vacuuni'line l5 and connector -l7, as

float harm support rod 24 connected-to a Icverurm 25: Caplti is=placed on.,,the-brake cylinder 10; with tube Zlegttcnding down into the;b ra ke fluid in the relervoirto guide the'float.23 'as'it moves up anddown with'thelevel of the brake.fluid; 2 l:

merit of FIGS. 1, 2- and 3, except adapted to the power steering 3 Float 23 may be made of cork or any other substance that will float in hydraulic brake fluid and not be chemically damaged thereby.The rising and falling of float 23 moves arm 25 which is movable connected to member 26 which member is fixedly attached to apparatus 11. A needle valve 27 is movably con- 5 nected to arm 25 between the 'movable connections for support rod24 and member 26. so that the needle valve 27 will rise and' fall with the movement of the float 23. Needle valve 27 has a square valve guide for vacuum passage and guide head 28 which fits into connector 17 to seal the vacuum in vacuum line 15. As the float 23 drops with the brake fluid level, the arm 25 and needle valve 27 also drop'until the head 28 of needle valve 27 leaves an'opening between connector 17 and head 28, thereby opening the vacuum line into a chamber 30. Chamber 30 is connected'to a sound alarm orsignal 31 held in apparatus 11 by a spring 32 and cover 20, which cover also has a vacuum bypass way 33 to allow the entrance of outside air. The air passing through the alarm 31, which may be a whistle or the like, gives off an audible warning. However, as

- can clearly be seen an air tight pipe linecould be connected in apparatus 11 at; the location of spring 32 and cover and the alarm placed at any other location of the vehicle, such as on the dashboard, It should be noted also at this point that support od 24 can be varied in length so that the signal can be activa'ted at any desired predeterminedv point of the level of brake fluid 21.

Turning now to FIG. 4, a preferred system of my invention is there shown for use with dual action brake cylinders and power steering in series and having both a warning lightand an audible alarm system, both of which are located in. the driver's compartment of the vehicle. Dual action hydraulic brake master cylinde'r 40is shown having twobrake lines 41 connected thereto, and the cylinder being 'held to the vehicle by bolts 42. The brake cylinder cap 43operates in the same manner as that in the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, except that two such systems including two floats, guide tubes, etc. are combinedintoone cap for the dual action brake system. Vacuum line 44 to manifoldvacuum enters one of these T- Fitting connectors .4 5.where the pipe line connects the connector 45 "with connector 47. The location of the audible alarm in the previous system'has a pipeconnection fitting in each of thetwo combinedcaps with both of these tubes being joined together at 48 and connected to the sound alarm 50, which may be located in thedriver's compartment of the vchi- 45 cle. The vacuum line connector 47 also has a connection for a pipe 51 connected to a vacuum switch 52, which in turn, has a vacuum line 53 also connected thereto and running to a power steering cap 54, which may also be identical to the embodifluid reservoir which normally require a different cap, a deeper guide tube, and a longer arm for the floatfThe location of the audible alarm in the previous system is replaced by a connector for a tube 55 which in turn is connected at 56 to the tubes from the joint 48 to the alarm 50. A power steering fluid reservoir is indicated at 57 and the apparatus 54 is connected thereto. As can be seen at this point, if either of the floats in i the hydraulic brake master cylinder 40 drops too low, or if the I float in power steering reservoir 57 drops too low, air will be 60 allowed into the vacuum lines through the alarm 50, thereby sounding thealarm that one of the fluid reservoirs has reached a predetermined low level and has become a safety hazard.

Looking now: at vacuum switch 52, a vacuum-operated switch having a diaphragm operated by a vacuum from vacuum line 5|,is located therein. Switch contacts are pulled apart by the vacuum acting on the diaphragm and upon release of the vacuum the contact points come together by the spring pressure on the diaphragm A wire 57 runs from one contact of the switch through the vehicle ignition 58 and through a warning light or signal 60, while a-second wire 6] runs to the battery 62, which is connected to warning light 60, to form a complete circuit. The warning light will come on whenever the vacuum in vacuum line 51 is reduced sufficiently by sufficient air by passing through alarm 50 past any of the three valve systems. Accordingly, a dual safety system is provided in which a sound alarm produces audible warnings while a warning light-produces visual warning. It should be clear, of course, that one or the other warning systems might by-used without the other, as might the hydraulic'brake system be used without the power steering, or the power steering without the hydraulic brake system warnings, and,.of course, other systems using fluids may be incorporated into the overall system. One such warning system that may be incorporated in the system is having the braking" lights connected with the braking switch and the vacuum switch 52 being connected in parallel so that when the vehicle stalls or anytime the ignition is on without the motor running, the brake lightcomes on. Optional wires 63 are shown for this connection, if it is desired.

FIG. 5 shows 'a cutaway view of the vacuum switch 52, which has a sealed vacuum chamber 70, inlet fitting 71 for connecting a vacuum line to a check ball valve 72. Ball 72 is inactivated by a sufficient vacuum being placed on the valve. However, when the vehicle throttle is opened suddenly the vacuum in the intake manifold and accordingly in the vacuum line is momentarily reduced. This would result in the vacuum switch being activated momentarily except for the ball which forms a temporary checkingor holding of the vacuum in the chamber. A diaphragm 73 has a forceapplied against it in one direction he spring' 74 and in the other direction by the vacuum in chamber 70. A copper plate 74 will close on two contacts 75 when the vacuum is reducedin chamber 70 thus allowing the flow of current through line 76. V From the foregoing description, it will be clear that a system has been provided for warning when; hydraulic brake fluid or power steering fluid has reached a low level in theoperation of various types of vehicles. It is to be understood, however, that the system as described has alwide range of applications, some of which have been described, but that other variations are contemplated as being within the spirit of the invention, For instance the linkage or connections'between the float andthe valve could be of other designs without departing from the scope of the present invention.

This invention is not to be construed as limited to the par.- ticular forms disclosed herein, since these are to be regarded asillustrative rather than restrictivem 1 l. A safety. signal apparatus for'warning when vehicle fluid levels reach a predetermined level comprising in combination:

a. signal means; i I I b. float means adapted to float in a fluid reservoir;

c. valve means having open and closed positions and linked to andoperated-by said float means; I I

d. said valve means having a vacuum'line attached to one side thereof and adapted to allow air intosaid vacuum line when said valve means is in said opened position and to prevent air from entering said vacuum line when in said closed position, said vacuum line also being coupled to a vacuum produced by the engine of said vehicle; and

e. said signal means being operated by the intake of air into said vacuum' line when said float means 'reaches a predetermined level thereby moving said valve means to .its open position.

i 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which said signal means includes an audible signal actuated by the flow of air into said vacuum line.

3. The apparatus according to claim2 in which said signal means includes a visual signal.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 in which said float means has aguide means for guiding the riseand fall of said float.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 in which two float means are adapted to float in each of said master brake cylinder fluid reservoirs in a dual action braking system and each said float having a valve means connected in series to said vacuum line.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 in which a third float means is adapted to float in the power steering reservoirs with one said valve means for each float connected in series to said vacuum line.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 in which a vacuumoperated switch is connected to said vacuum line and is adapted to electrically switch on said visual signal when the vacuum in said line is reduced to a predetermined level.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 in which said vacuum switch has a checking means to prevent switching on said 

1. A safety signal apparatus for warning when vehicle fluid levels reach a predetermined level comprising in combination: a. signal means; b. float means adapted to float in a fluid reservoir; c. valve means having open and closed positions and linked to and operated by said float means; d. said valve means having a vacuum line attached to one side thereof and adapted to allow air into said vacuum line when said valve means is in said opened position and to prevent air from entering said vacuum line when in said closed position, said vacuum line also being coupled to a vacuum produced by the engine of said vehicle; and e. said signal means being operated by the intake of air into said vacuum line when said float means reaches a predetermined level thereby moving said valve means to its open position.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which said signal means includes an audible signal actuated by the flow of air into said vacuum line.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2 in which said signal means includes a visual signal.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 3 in which said float means has a guide means for guiding the rise and fall of said float.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 4 in which two float means are adapted to float in each of said master brake cylinder fluid reservoirs in a dual action braking system and each said float having a valve means connected in series to said vacuum line.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 5 in which a third float means is adapted to float in the power steering reservoirs with one said valve means for each float connected in series to said vacuum line.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 6 in which a vacuum-operated switch is connected to said vacuum line and is adapted to electrically switch on said visual signal when the vacuum in said line is reduced to a predetermined level.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 7 in which said vacuum switch has a checking means to prevent switching on said visual signal from momentary reductions in the vacuum in the vacuum line.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 8 in which the brake lights of said vehicle are connected through said vacuum switch and in parallel with the braking lights braking switch, whereby said braking lights will be turned on by the loss of the vacuum in said vacuum line. 